Drop-head stand.



A. J. BRIGGS.

DROP-HEAD STAND.

APPLlcAnoN man JUNE 15. |914.

1,197,709. L y Patentedsepnlaml.

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A. J. BRIGGS.

DROP-HEAD STAND.

APPLICATION r|LEn1uNE15,1914.

1,197,709. Patentedsept. 12,1916.

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marian srarns PATENT @FFCFL ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, OF SYRACUSE, NEVI'YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE VNNETTE BOBBN- LESS SEWING MACHINE COMEANZ, OF AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

DROP-HEAD STAND.

T 0 all whom t may concern c Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, citizen of the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drop- Head Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sewing machine Stands, and particularly to stands of the type commonly referred to as drop-head stands, in which the head of the sewing machine of which the stand forms a part may be caused to descend below the upper surface of the stand and into an interior compartment thereof when the machine is not in use.

The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for lowering the head when the machine is t0 remain out of usefor a time, and for raising it when the machine is to be used, which mechanism shall be simple in construction and effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the improved sewing machine stand mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

ln the drawing, wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated and wherein the same reference numerals are used to designate the samev parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a view showing my improved stand partly in front elevation and partly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the parts being shown'in the position they assume when the head is in a raised position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they assaime when the head is lowered; and Fig. 4: is a detail view in side elevation illustrating certain of the elements of the mechanism for raisingv and lowering the head.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numerals 5, 6 designate thel supporting legs of my improved sewing machine stand, and 7 the top or table to which they upper ends of said legs are secured and which top is provided with an opening 8 through whichv Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Fatented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed June 15, 1914. Serial No. 845,161.

the head 9 of the machine is lowered when the machine is to remain out of use, said opening being covered at such times by a cover or leaf 10 connected with the table 7 through a hinge connection at 11, as is usual in drop-head sewing machine stands or cabinets. The opening 8 in the top of the stand is formed with an extension at one end thereof, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is of less width than the opening proper and adapted to receive the sewing machine pulley wheel when the machine is in its lowered position.

The head 9 includes as a part thereof a base 12, the rear edge of which is pivotally connected at 13 with a rising and falling cradle or supporting member 14, and said member is provided at the front side thereof adjacent its opposite ends with two arms 15, 15,-see Fig. each having an adjustable abutment 16 at its free end and which abutment engages with the under surface of the base, whereby, by adjusting the abutments, the forward edge of the base may be raised or lowered with reference to the supporting member, as will be understood, and for a purpose hereinafter to be explained. This supporting memberlil is provided with an arm 17 located at one end of and preferably formed integrally therewith, the free end of which arm is guided by a curved guide 18 carried by the leg 6, and located at the rear portion thereof, as said supporting member rises and falls; said guide being preferably formed integrally with the leg and a roller 19 being commonly provided in order to reduce the friction between the parts.

The supporting member Mis pivotally4 connected with a swinging frame located beneath the table as by means of bearings 20, said frame comprising a bar 21 and two arms 22 located one at each end of said bar and the lower ends of which arms are pivotally supported at 23' from'suitable brackets 241, which brackets in turn are supported from the legs of the stand'. "llhisfY swinging frame is provided with an arm 25, through which it is operated, the bar 21,- arms 22, and operating arm 25 being preferably formed integrally with` one another, although they may obviously be formed separ'atel'y and secured together to form a unitary structure.

The free end of the operating arm 25 is connected with the cover 10 through a flexible connecting member 26, one end of which member' is connected to the leaf at a point 27 located some distance from the hinge 11; said flexible member being guided by suitable rollers 28, 29, supported from the stand, as will be understood.

In view of the premises, it will be obvious that upon swinging the cover 10 about its hinge connection 11, the swinging frame and the supporting member 14 carried by it will swing backward and downward about the pivotal supports 23 as centers, and the parts will move from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2 into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3, in which latter position the head 9 lies beneath the surface of the table 7 and the cover overlies the same and closes the opening S therein, through which the head has descended during the movements herein referred to.

The bar 21 obviously rotates within the bearings 2O as the various parts move from one of their eXtreme positions to the other, and the relative proportion of the parts and the form of the curved guide 18 is such that during this movement the supporting member or cradle 14 is kept substantially level, so that the head 9 of the machine is maintained in an upright position as it is moved from without the cabinet into the same, or vice versa. The guide is provided with a stop 30 with which the roller 19 engages at the end of the upward movement of the parts, and a second stop 31 preferably in the form of a block of rubber or similar material to thereby form a buffer is so located as to be engaged by said roller at the end of the downward movement of the parts.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be understood that as the swinging frame starts to move from the position shown in that figure, the supporting member and head will move to the right, or backward, as well as downward, thus necessitating the provision of an opening in the table wider from front to back than would be necessary if the parts partook of vertical movement only and, in order to close this excess width of the opening 8 when the head is up and the machine is in condition to be used, a plate 32 is provided, which plate is connected with the rear edge of the base 12 by means of a hinge connection at 33. As the head descends this plate folds into the position shown in Fig. 3, and it is swung downward to close the eX- cess opening herein referred to after the head has been again brought into its position above the table preparatory to using the machine.

It will be obvious that the supporting member and head move forward, or to the left, as well as upward, as the parts move into the final position in which they are shown in Fig. 2 and, at or near the end of such movement, the front edge of the base 12 engages and is moved onto a support 34 carried by the top 7 and whereby the front of the base is supported when the machine is in condition for use. A roller 35 is preferably provided to reduce the friction between the parts, the position of which roller is suchl that it engages the support 34, as the head moves into its final position and through which the front of the base is supported, as will be understood.

The abutment 16 hereinbefore referred'to is commonly so adjusted that the front or left hand edge of the base 12 lies slightly below its position when the parts are in their nal position shown in Fig. 2, so that as the head is moved into its final position said edge is raised slightly because of the engagement between the same and the support 34, the pivotal connection 13 between the base and supporting member permitting this movement and the base being thus lifted slightly from the abutment, as will be understood.

The arm 22 adjacent the belt 36 is provided with a belt support 37, having an opening through which the belt 36 passes, and which prevents the belt from leaving the main driving wheel 38 when the parts are moved into the position shown in Fig. 3, and insures that when the head is moved back into its position above the table the belt will be in driving engagement with the wheel. This driving wheel is shown as supported from a housing or guard plate 39, see Fig. 1, so that the dress of the operator cannot come into Contact with the wheel, said guard being shown as formed integrally with the leg 6 and the bracket 24 being shown as secured to said plate.

A casing 43 is located beneath the table 7 whereby a compartment is provided within which the head is contained when in its lowermost position, and whereby the head is protected from dust when the machine is not in use, as will be understood.

The driving pulley of the head is shown as provided with a swinging belt guard 40 pivotally supported at 41 from an arm 42 carried by the head, so that the belt may be removed from the pulley after swinging the guard in question away therefrom.

While I have shown and described my improved drop-head cabinet or stand as adapted for the support of a sewing machine, it will be understood that it is equally adapted for the support of a machine of any character, such for instance as a typewriter, which it is desired to remove from operative position at the top of the stand when not in use.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a drop-head stand, a table having an opening through which a machine may mevr/o9 pass; a pivotally supported swinging frame located beneath said table; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said ame and partaking of the movements thereof; a guide located beneath said table and with which said pivoted supporting member engages to be guided as it'y moves with said frame; a machine having a base the rear'edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; means c'arried by said member for supporting the machine horizontally relative thereto; and means for raising and lowering said frame.

2. In a drop-head stand, a table having an opening through which a machine may pass; a pivotally supported swinging frame located beneath said table; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; a guide located beneath said table and with which said pivot supporting member engages to be guided as it moves with said frame; a machine having a base the rear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; vertically adjustable means carried by said member for supporting the machine horizontally relative thereto; and means for raising and lowering said frame.

In a device of the class described, a table having an opening; a vertically movable frame located beneath said table; a machine supporting member movably connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; a guide located beneath said table and with which said supporting member engages to be guided as it moves with said frame; a machine adapted to move through said opening and having a base therear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; a fixed support with which the front edge of said base engages when said machine is in its uppermost position; and means for raising and lowering said frame.

4L. In a device of the class described, a table having an opening; a pivotally supported swinging frame located beneath said table; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; a guide located beneath said table and with which said pivoted supporting member engages to be guided as it moves with said frame; a machine adapted to move through said opening and having a base the rear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; a support carried by said table and with which the front edge of said base engages when said machine is in its final uppermost position; and means for swinging said frame.

5. In a device of the class described, a table having an opening; a pivotally supported swinging frame located beneath said table; a machine supporting member `pivotally connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; a guide locatedbeneath said table and with which said Supporting member engages-'to be guided as it moves with said frame; a machine adapted to move through said opening and having a base the rear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; a plate Ypivotally connected with the rear edge of said base and adapted to close a portion of the opening aforesaid; and means for swinging said frame.

6. In a sewing machine stand, a table having an opening through which a machine may pass; legs for supporting said table; a frame pivotally supported from said legs and adapted to swing rearward and downward; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said frame and having a guide arm; a curved guide carried by one of the legs aforesaid and with which said guide arm engages as said pivoted supporting member moves with said frame; and means for swinging said frame.

7. In a device of the class described, a table having an opening; legs for supporting said table; a frame pivotally supported from said legs and adapted to swing rearward and downward; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; a curved guide carried by one of the legs aforesaid and located at the rear portion thereof and with which said supporting member engages to be guided as it moves with said frame; a machine adapted to move through said opening and having a base the rear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; a support carried by said table and with which the front edge of said base engages when said head is in its uppermost position; and means for swinging said frame.

8. In a device of the class described, a table having an opening; legs for supporting said table, a frame pivotally supported from said legs and adapted to swing rearward and downward; a machine supporting member pivotally connected with said frame and partaking of the movements thereof; an

arm located at one end of said supporting member; a curved guide carried by one of the legs aforesaid and located at the rea-r portion thereof and with which the end of said arm engages as said supporting member moves with said frame; a machine adapted to move through said opening and having a base the rear edge of which is pivotally connected with said supporting member; a support carried by said table and with whlch the front edge of said base engages when said machine is in its final uppermost position; a plate pivotally connected with the rear edge of said base and adapted to close a portion of the opening aforesaid; an arm daga and State of New York this 9th day carried by Sad frame a cover hngfed to said of June, A. D. 1914. table; a fleXi e mem er, one en 0 which is connected with said arm and the other end ARTHUR J BRIGGS with said cover; and guides for said flexible Witnesses: member. EARL S. BOYNTON,

Signed at Syracuse in the county of Onon- J. LOYD COLWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

